Spreading and trailing plants such as Alyssum and Aubrieta can become tatty, so trim them back after flowering.

Put supports in place for herbaceous plants like peonies that produce heavy blooms and can be battered by winds and rain. Keep an eye on tall-growing plants like hollyhocks and delphiniums – better to stake them early then not at all.

Lift clumps of forget-me-not once the display wanes, and before too many seeds are released.

Pinch out leading shoots on plants such as Chrysanthemum and Helianthus to encourage bushy plants.

Pot on root-bound tender plants, such as geraniums.

Tie in climbing and rambling roses as near to horizontal as possible, to restrict sap flow, causing more side-shoots to grow along the stem, producing more flowers.

Put netting in place to protect all soft fruit from birds.

Earth up potatoes when the shoots are 23cm (9in) high, in order to prevent the new tubers going green, leaving 5cm (2in) of shoot uncovered so that the plant has enough foliage to continue growing.